The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-08-05
TWICE TEN YEARS.
Written for this paper.l


term. My mother gave me innamerable i'll
| structions, smoothed my collar and adjusted
my cap on my head properly, then gave me
kiss and stood looking wistfully at me as
went down the walk and got into the car.
| riage.
A month or two later-it was June, I think
after hard struggle one afternoon with
some figures, all about ship and cargo
and the profit and all that, i went out to join
the boys. When reached the play ground
they We're gone, and there was nothing foi
me to do but amuse myself as best Tcould
strolled around the house with my hands III
my pockets, which my mother had told me
distinctly I must not do; and suddenly re.
membering her instructions took them out
again, and for want of better amusement
began to whistle.
Next to the school there was q pretty cot
tage separated from the school house by q
board fence. The two houses were not 10C
feet apart, and could look right through
under the trees; and there on the croquet
ground stood girl, a trifle younger than my.
self, looking straight at me- "& 5@
A boy who sees girl looking at him feels
very queer; remember that very well. My
hands went right into my pockets, but re-
membering that was not the correct thing to
do in the presence of girl, took them
directly out again. Then concluded that il
would be good way to show how little
was embarrassed by turning twice round on
my heel, a movement on which I greatly
prided myself. After that-I don't remem-
ber now, it was 80 long ago, what new capers
cut; but one thing is very certain: it was not
long before was hdnting for something
pretended to have lost in the grass beside the
fence. El'
"1f it's your knife you've lost," heard a
voice say, "it isn't there picked up knife
there week ago, but it was all rusty and no
good" .----.....-s- p.
"Oh, never mind" said, looking up into
two eyes away back in sunbonnet, and pre-
varicating, "it wasn't much of knife, any
way, and I've got another" f
"Are you one of the boys at the school!'
"Yes"
"What reader are you in?" "The Fourth. y
"Do you study geography Eyes"
"What's the capital of the United States?'
scratched my head. II don't remember
that" admitted reluctantly. "rm first rate
on capitals, but don't remember that one
"Why didn't you go off with the boysP
II was behind with my sums / expect
they've gone to the river. like the woods
pretty well, they're full of squirrels" -.
"And snakes" she added.
"I'm not afraid of snakes"
"And lizards"
"Nor lizards. / suppose you're afraid to go
there" --,.'...,- .
"No, I'm not"
'lf you want to go there now, and are
afraid, don't mind going along, just to keep
off snakes and things"
She looked out at the woods can see the
slender, childish figure now, leaning OIL the
croquet mallet, deliberating-if such men,
tai process can be called deliberation, when
the conclusion is predetermined-an long
to be back twenty years, and fold it in my
arms. Suddenly, without any warning, she
dropped the mallet and started for the wood.
We had not penetrated far into its quiet
depths, when the little girl stopped, and Look
ing earnestly at me with her expressive eyes,
said: s--. ........ =.-.-
"How still it is in here! 1t seems to me J
can almost hear it be STILL"
"Yes, it is pretty solemn" I replied. "Let's
go on; the river winds around down there,
and we can see the water go over the dam"
We emerged from the wood, and stood by
the river. / was familiar with the ground,
and led my little friend directly to the DAM
"Most of the boys are afraid to walk out ON
that dam," said. rHe s.,
aI'd be afraid ra.. s. -
"But you're only girl; boy oughtn't to
be afraid" With that / started boldly out,
occasionally standing on one foot, and per-
forming sundry antics to show What brave
boy was Then came part way back aud
called to her to come.
"Oh! no." she said, "I'm afraid"
"Afraid! You little goose with me to hold
on tos sa2
Betwixt her fear and disposition pliable
to a boy older and stronger than herself, it
was not long before was leading her out ON
the DAM
I "Don't you see it's nothingg' I said. 80.
50 She shrunk back as I led her along. de-
termined that she should go to point where
the water poured over a portion of the dam
lower than the rest. In vain she hung back,
in vain she pleaded with her voice and with
her eyes to go no further. had determined
to take her with me, and / did. CIR. vi g#s-e~
@There, you see it's easy enough when you
once make up your mind to it."
We were standing looking out ON the NOV
ing waters. They had a very distressing ef-
feet on Julia, She looked daZed, and held on
to my arm in childish terror,
aIt makes me dizzy she said,
"Let me step mp on this post and then you
can hold on to my hand" ta5 1899 1a44Eee
turned my back to step up on the post. 1t
was but a moment heard cry and saw
Julia in the food The expression that was
in her ey is to this day stamped clearly oR
my memory-an expression Of mingled re-
:proach and forgiveness. 1!'A 90 s&esI
had never lived by the water, and could
scarcely swim dozen strokes; but not q sec
ond had elapsed before was in the flood
/ swan, and struggled, and buffeted, to
reach her; all in vain. An eddy whirled me
in o different direction My strength was
soon exhausted. / was borne down the river,
sinking and rising, till came to a place
where a man was running along some planks
extending into the river and raised above the
water on posts My feet became entangled
in weeds; sank; heard o great roaring in
my ears, then oblivion. SAL ar
When came to / was lying on my back.
Ireniember the first thing saw was light
cloud sailing over the clear blue. There was
an air of peace and quiet in it that contrasted
with my own sensations. Then saw man
on his knees beside something he was rub 4
bing. / turned on my side and saw it was
little figure; girl, Julia. She was cold and
stark, 4 4
My agony was far greater than when had
plunged after her into the stream, Then !
hoped and believed that it she were drowned
should be also. Now saw her beside mo
lifeless, and lived 4ss $50 sii ss
Then some raen came, and the man who
was rubbing Julia said to them, aTake caro-
OF the boy; the girl is too far gone They
took me up and carried mo away, and laid
me for awhile ON bed in a strange house.
Then was driven to the school, @
The next day my father came and took mo
home. I was i'll after that, too i'll to ask
about Julia, but when recovered what
load was taken from my mind to know that
by dint OF rubbing and rolling and stima-
liant she too had been brought to and had
recovered also learned that the man who
,ared for rs had rescued us. When saw
pim running along tho planks, it was to his
9pat chained at the end. 8ga8a SIS l!6aa
That summer my father removed with his
family to the Pacific coast. He was obliged
TO wait some time for my recovery, but at
last was able TO travel, and left without
again seeing the little girl riwhom had led
into danger. only heard that I had been
blamed by every one. sra i
Ten years passed, during which was eoli-
stantly haunted by ono idea: that was TO go
back to New England, ind Julia and ianplore
her forgiveness. Tho years that I must be
alad